Egg-crate.



No. 836,029. Q PATENTED NOV. 13, 1906; R. K. GREGORY.

EGG CRATE.

Arrucnron FILED SEPT.7.1905.

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R. K. GREGORY.

EGG CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 7. 1905,

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 13, 1906.

Application filed September 7, 1905. Serial No. 277,390-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD K. GREGORY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Greensboro, in the county of Guilford and State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Egg- Crates and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to shipping-crates; and one of the principal objects of the same is to provide a folding or knockdown crate which will occupy but little space when folded for shipping back to the sender.

Another object is to provide a shippingcrate of simple construction which can be manufactured at slight cost and which willbe strong, durable, and efficient in use.

These and other objects are attained by means of the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a crate made in accordance with myinvention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the crate in folded condition. Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the same. Fig. 5 is an under side perspective view of the top or cover of the crate, and Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of one form of corner-fastening.

Referring to the drawings for a more particular description of my invention, the numeral 1 designates the bottom of the crate, and 2 represents the ends of the crate connected to the bottom by hinges 3 and adapted to fold inwardly upon the bottom. The back 4 of the crate is connected by hinges 5 to a strip 6, rigidly secured to the bottom of the crate. The front 7 of the crate is connected by hinges 8 to a strip 9, rigidly secured to the bottom of the crate. The front, the back, and the ends are connected together, when the crate is in its extended condition, by means of U-shaped wire fastenings 10, the vertical legs of which are adapted to engage openings 11 in the u per edges of the ends and front and back 0 the crate. The back of the crate, near its upper edge, is provided with two holes 12, and the cover 13 is provided with flanges 14. upon three sides thereofthat is to say, the two ends and back of said cover. Two prongs 15 pass through the rear flange of the cover and are adapted to engage the holes 12 in the back of the crate. Stops or lugs 16 are secured under the cover to prevent the end members from being pushed inwardly when the cover is in place. A stout cord or wire 17 is secured, by means of a staple, under the bottom of the cover, said cord or wire adapted to extend out of the crate and pass around the same for holding its parts firmly together when in its open condition. A hasp 18 is secured to the top and adapted to engage a staple on the front of the crate, and a padlock 19 may be utilized for securing the cover in place.

When it is desired to fold the crate, the fastening devices are removed and placed in holes or openings 20 in the upper edges of the ends. The ends are folded inwardly upon the bottom of the crate. The back and front are also folded fiat upon the ends, the varying width of the strips being such that the parts will be folded flat. The cover isthen placed on the top and secured by means of the wire or stout cord. The cover of the crate is secured thereto by placing the same ontop of the crate and moving it forward until two screws or pins are made to engage the holes 12 and the stops are inside the ends of the crate. The hasp is then swung around to engage the staple, and in this condition the top cannot be removed until the hasp has been swung to the top of the cover, and the cover then slides backward to disengage the screws from the holes 12, when the cover can be raised.

For shipping fruit the crate may be made of slats, while for shipping eggs the crate may be made of solid boards, as will be understood.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The herein-described knockdown shippingcrate consisting of a bottom piece, end pieces hinged to the bottom piece, strips of varying widths secured at the front and back to the bottom piece, front and back pieces hinged to the strips, fastenings for securing the front, back and ends together, a cover having flanges extending across the back and at the ends, prongs 15 upon the in- -1' In testimony whereof I have hereunto set ner side oithe flange at the back of the cover, my hand in presence of twosubscribing Witstops secured to the top upon its lower side nesses. V 1 "I i to prevent the ends from being pushed in- RICHARD K. GREGORY. 5 wardly, and a hasp and staple for securing I Witnesses: v

the cover to the front of the crate, substan- J. L. WINNINGHAM,

tially as described. J. S. GUTHRIE. 

